Improvement in fly-traps



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NICOLAS PIKE, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO EMMA TAYLOR,

OF SAME PLACE.,

'IMPRovEM ENT IN FLY-TRAPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 52,794, dated February 20, 1866; antedated February 5, 1866.

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, NICOLAS PIKE, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of' New York, have invented a new and Improved .Fly-Catching Device; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which Will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ot' this specification, in Which- Figure l is a view of myinvention adjusted for use; Fig. 2, an enlarged vertical central section of the same; Fig. 3, a plan or top view of the box with the upper part removed, so as to exhibit the interior.

Similar letters ot' reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class ot' fly-traps in which a composition is used as a bait and to hold or retain the iiies by its adhesiveness.

The invention consists in applying the composition to a string, Wire, or rod, and having the same pass through a box containing the composition, and arranged in such a manner that by moving either' the string, Wire, or rod, or the box, the former will be passed through the composition and the latter applied toit, and at the same time lall flies on the string, Wire, or rod stripped olf and lodged in a receptacle at the top ofthe composition-box.

A represents a box, which may be constructed of sheet metal or other material of any suitable dimensions, and provided with a lid or cover, B, having a ange, e, extending upward all around it to form a receptacle to receive the entrapped ies. (See Figs. l and 2.)

Within the box A, near its lower end, there is secured a horizontal bar, O, around which a string or thin wire, D, passes, said string or wire passing upI through two tubes, E E,'in the lid or cover B, and having rings 11,11 at its ends, by which the device may be suspended from a ceiling or any convenient fixture. (See Fig. 1.)

Thev box A is supplied with a composition, F, of such a nature that it Will secure or hold vthe liies when the latter come in contact with it, and the string or wire D is smeared or covered with the composition by catching hold of one end of a ring at one end of it and drawing it through the composition in the box until the ring at the opposite end comes in contact with a tube, E, and then catching hold of thelatter ring and drawing it up or out- 'ward from the box until the other ring comes in contact with the other tube, the latter ring then being drawn outward until both rings may be placed in contact and the box is at the center of the string or Wire. The box is then suspended, as shown in Fig. 1, and the flies Will light upon the smeared string or wire and become attached thereto. When the string or wire becomes covered with iiies the device is taken oft from the hooks or nails on Which it is suspended and the string or wire drawn through the tubes as before, the entrapped flies being stripped oft' from the string or wire by the tubes E, and dropping into the receptacle formed by the ange a, and the string or wire at the same time being again coated or smeared With the composition.

Thus by this simple means a very cheap and convenient device is obtained for coating y or covering the Wire, string, or rod with the composition, and the flies stripped from the wi re, string, or rod withy the greatest facility.

I would remark that, instead of a string or flexible wire, a rigid orsti't't' wire may be used and arranged so as to pass through the bottom ot' the box A; but I prefer the flexible string or wire.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Paten t- 1. A box for containing the ily composition, with a string, wire, or rod arranged in such a manner that by moving either the string, wire, or rod, or the box, the former may be drawn or passed through the composition, and the flies at the same time stripped from the string, wire, or rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In connection With the string, wire, or rod, constructing the lid or cover B of the box with a iiange, c. to form a ily-receptacle, as set forth.

3. The box A, cover B, tubes E, bar C, and string or Wire D, all arranged and combined substantially as and for the purpose specified.

NICOLAS PIKE.

Witnesses:

M. M. LIVINGSTON, C. L. TOPLIFF. 

